Sephience: Dosage, side effects, uses, interactions, cost, and more

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Sephience to treat phenylketonuria (PKU). It’s used in adults and children ages 1 month and older to lower phenylalanine levels in the blood.

Sephience is available only as a brand-name medication. It’s not currently available in generic form.

A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs.

For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb).

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Sephience comes as an oral powder in single-dose packets. It’s available in two strengths: 250 milligrams (mg) and 1,000 mg.

To learn more about taking Sephience, see the “How to take” section.

For PKU, Sephience is taken once daily. The typical starting dose for adults is 60 mg per kg of body weight.

Your doctor may adjust your dosage over time based on your blood phenylalanine levels and how well the treatment is working. The recommended ongoing dosage ranges from 7.5 mg to 60 mg per kg of body weight once daily.

If you have questions about the Sephience dosage that’s right for you, talk with your doctor.

Sephience is prescribed to treat PKU in children ages 1 month and older.

Your child’s doctor may adjust the dose over time based on their blood phenylalanine levels and how well the treatment is working. The recommended ongoing dose ranges from 7.5 mg to 60 mg per kg of body weight once daily.

Your doctor or pharmacist will show you how to prepare each dose of Sephience.

Sephience comes as a powder in single-dose packets. Depending on your prescribed dose, you’ll mix the contents of the packets with water, apple juice, or a soft food such as applesauce or strawberry jam.

Stir the powder into a liquid for at least 30 seconds. If mixing with a soft food, stir for at least 60 seconds. Drink or eat the whole mixture right away. Then rinse the container with water and swallow the rinse until the container is clean.

Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you how many packets to use for your dose. You can also find a dosage chart in the drug’s prescribing information.

To learn more about how to take Sephience, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not take more Sephience than your doctor recommends. For some drugs, doing so may lead to unwanted side effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor. You can also call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. However, if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Sephience can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Sephience. These lists do not include all possible side effects.

For more information about the possible side effects of Sephience, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to manage any side effects that may be concerning or bothersome.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Sephience and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Here is a partial list of mild side effects of Sephience. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or view Sephience’s prescribing information.

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. However, if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects from Sephience aren’t common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 or your local emergency phone number if your symptoms feel life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency.

For some people, Sephience can cause an allergic reaction. But this side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s clinical trials.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Sephience, your doctor may recommend a different medication instead.

The following information describes the FDA-approved use for Sephience.

Sephience is approved to treat phenylketonuria (PKU) in adults and children ages 1 month and older.

PKU is a rare genetic condition that affects how the body breaks down phenylalanine. This is a protein found in certain foods and products, including milk, meat, and aspartame. Over time, phenylalanine may build up in the body and cause harmful effects such as seizures, intellectual disability, and behavioral problems.

Doctors prescribe Sephience to lower phenylalanine levels in the body. It’s prescribed along with a PKU diet that limits phenylalanine intake.

To learn more about Sephience for PKU, talk with your doctor.

Sephience is approved to treat PKU in children ages 1 month and older. For details about this condition, see the “Sephience for phenylketonuria (PKU)” section.

To learn more about this use, talk with your child’s doctor.

Sephience can interact with several other medications. However, the drug isn’t known to interact with any supplements or foods.

Before taking Sephience, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

Here is a list of medications that can interact with Sephience. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Sephience. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Alcohol is not known to interact with Sephience. If you have questions about whether alcohol is safe to drink while taking Sephience, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

As with all medications, the cost of Sephience can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.

Financial and insurance assistance: If you need financial support to pay for Sephience or help understanding your insurance coverage, a program called PTC Cares is available. For more information and to find out if you’re eligible for support, call 844-478-2227 or visit the program website.

Generic version: Sephience is not available in a generic form. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

Other drugs are available that can treat phenylketonuria (PKU), such as sapropterin (Kuvan, Zelvysia). Some may be a better fit for you than others.

If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Sephience, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.

If you can become pregnant, consider the following information about pregnancy and breastfeeding.

It’s not known whether Sephience should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

It’s not known whether Sephience should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

Before taking Sephience, discuss your health history with your doctor. Sephience may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Note: For more information about the potential negative effects of Sephience, see the “Sephience side effects” section.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.